Daith Piercings – what are they, what do they do and what you can expect.

Daith piercings have had a massive surge in popularity over the last year. I can see why. They’re cute, unusual and sometimes, I must stress sometimes, they can have some unexpected benefits for those that suffer with migraines.

Put simply, a daith piercing is a piercing which passes through the innermost fold of cartilage in the ear. Most people can have the piercing done, unless they have a very small fold of cartilage, in which case I might advise a different piercing. Once we’ve ascertained that your ear anatomy is suitable, we will clean the area, mark the dot, ensure you are happy and then carry out the piercing using a tapered needle. A ball closure ring such as the one in the picture above is the best choice to start with, as it gives enough room for the piercing to swell and heal.

As with all cartilage piercings, it can take up to 12 weeks to settle, and you must be very careful not to fiddle with, or bash the piercing during this time. However, despite the somewhat lengthy healing time, they are a very nice piercing, with some unusual options for jewellery such as little stars, hearts or filigree rings which can really make it a feature of your ear. Pain wise, I’d say it’s middling. It’s quite a chunky bit of cartilage so you can expect a feeling of pressure followed by a brief pinch. The lady I did the piercing on featured above said she barely felt it, so I think it mostly depends on your personal pain threshold! Afterwards, you will most likely have some throbbing for the first couple of days, and you will want to avoid sleeping on that ear, and ensure that you are keeping up with your aftercare cleaning.

As well as being aesthetically pleasing, the daith piercing has been reported to have a positive affect on people that suffer with migraines. The science behind this is that the point itself is a pressure point used by acupuncturists to relieve head pain, and as such, the piercing can have this affect. I must be clear though that this is by no means a proven effect of the piercing or a cure all. I have had reports from clients that it has improved their migraines, however for some people it hasn’t had an effect. However, I figure the worst that happens is that you get a new pretty piercing so I reckon it’s worth a go if you’re looking for something to help your headaches!

~ Clo

If you would like to talk to us more about Daith piercings, and whether it is the right choice for you, please feel free to contact us on our facebook page.